WALES'S biggest quango is about to issue 13 compulsory redundancy notices to employees after a cost-cutting programme imposed by the Assembly Government.

WALES'S biggest quango is about to issue 13 compulsory redundancy notices to employees after a cost-cutting programme imposed by the Assembly Government.

Elwa, which is responsible for post-16 education and training, intends to shed a total of between 90 and 100 jobs before next April.

Although it is understood that 76 employees have applied for voluntary redundancy, some have been turned down.

The workforce has threatened to pass motions of no confidence in Education Minister Jane Davidson and Elwa management if compulsory redundancies are imposed.

A spokesperson for Elwa said, "In the organisation's Works Council August meeting, it was agreed that notice for redundancy on a voluntary basis could shortly be served to around 25 members of staff.

A smaller group of staff, for whom no alternative employment opportunities have been found to date, will also receive notice of compulsory redundancy, although every effort continues to be made to re-deploy or retrain these individuals.

"Further redundancy notices will be issued over the next few weeks as a result of further interviews taking place.

"It is currently anticipated that between 35-40 employees in total will be able to leave the organisation on a voluntary basis by Christmas 2003, with a small number unavoidably leaving by the same time on a compulsory basis. This could be reduced by the success of ongoing activities to identify alternative employment opportunities.

"The Works Council will be considering later this year the already announced second tranche of redundancies due to take between January and April 2004. It is again anticipated that numbers could further diminish through ongoing redeployment and retraining activities.

Elwa's interim chief executive, Peter Higson said, "We are attempting to meet our reduction requirements through voluntary redundancy, redeployment and retraining but there may be some people whose skills and experience don't match the new circumstances. In these cases we will help the individuals concerned to develop their careers outside Elwa through practical measures such as retraining and out-placement support."

Peter Harris, negotiations officer for the PCS union in Wales, said, "I am pleased that we have been able to work effectively together to reduce the possible number of compulsory redundancies. There is still, however, much work to be done and further discussions will take place so we can attempt to re-deploy and retrain more members of staff."